A career as a social worker for your state's Department of Children and Families (DCF) – also referred to under different names, such as Child Protective Services or the Office of Children and Family Services, depending on your location – can be difficult and stressful at times, yet also rewarding and fulfilling. Becoming aware of the potential challenges of being a DCF social worker can help you decide if this is the right career trajectory for you.

High Staff Turnover

One of the main challenges of working with the DCF is the high rate of staff turnover. Because of the inherent difficulties of DCF work, many social workers experience burnout and decide to pursue a different career path within just a matter of months or years. In fact, according to a 2005 report by the Children and Families Institute for Research, Support and Training at Fordham University, some DCF locations in the U.S. experience a 50% staff turnover per year. Realizing that your co-workers – and even you – are not likely to stick around for the long haul can have a negative impact on morale and job satisfaction.

Burnout

A key reason for high staff turnover is burnout. Simply put, DCF work can be emotionally and physically draining. According to the Vermont Department for Children and Families, a DCF social worker needs to be resilient and have a high frustration tolerance. You'll mainly work in situations involving child abuse and neglect, investigating and evaluating the safety of children and adolescents. You may have to make frequent home visits to your clients to evaluate and intervene in situations where a child's life may literally be in danger. You may be responsible for removing abused children from their homes, placing children in foster care, dealing with drug- and alcohol-addicted parents or caregivers, or acting on behalf of your clients in legal settings. And you may be required to be on-call for certain periods outside of your normal working hours.

Personal Safety

At times, you may feel uncomfortable intervening in certain situations. You might be called to evaluate a situation that involves an angry parent who starts acting out toward you. According to the Massachusetts Safety Officers League, clients often react in anger because of difficulty in acknowledging the need for help. They may be experiencing emotional pain and turmoil, but they have no place to direct these feelings, and you might be directly in the line of fire. As a DCF social worker, you'll need to learn how to effectively interact with clients in many challenging scenarios and learn to quickly determine whether a situation threatens your personal safety.

Compassion Fatigue

"Compassion fatigue" is a term used to describe the feeling of frustration, emotional distress and sorrow that you might feel when working with your clients. These symptoms are also referred to as secondary post-traumatic stress disorder and it's different from burnout caused by job stress. Compassionate fatigue involves emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion caused by witnessing and absorbing the problems and suffering of others – a key concern when you're involved in DCF work. According to an article in "The New Social Worker Online," managing compassionate fatigue can be challenging and involves being able to develop proper boundaries and put aside your personal issues and feelings in the best interest of your clients.

About the Author

Ashley Miller is a licensed social worker, psychotherapist, certified Reiki practitioner, yoga enthusiast and aromatherapist. She has also worked as an employee assistance program counselor and a substance-abuse professional. Miller holds a Master of Social Work and has extensive training in mental health diagnosis, as well as child and adolescent psychotherapy. She also has a bachelor's degree in music.

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